Handbag



Nov. 30, 1954 H. DEUTSCH 2,695,647

HANDBAG Filed Jan. 25, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 7 INVENTOR. HYMAN DEU'ISCI-I 5) @D l i Arrbx/vzy H. DEUTSCH Nov. 30; 1 954 HANDBAG 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1954 INVENTOR.

HYMAN DEUTSCH United States Pate'iit"() N AG Hyman Deutsch, New York, N. Y.

Application January 25, 1954, Serial No. 405,719

.2 Claims. Cl. 150-29 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in womens handbags and in handbag construction.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved handbag having an inclined opening and a cover adapted to open to the same inclination to extend the opening.

Another object of the present invention proposes constructing the handbag as a clutch bag with parts which compactly fold together and which when opened provide adequate depth for handbag articles.

Still further, the present invention proposes forming the clutch bag with rigid frame members, one around the inclined sides and the front Wall of the bag and the other around the cover, the frame members being pivotally hinged together adjacent the back Wall of the bag and foldable one upon the other.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a clutch bag constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention, the bag being shown in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the bag partly open.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the rear of the bag.

Fig. 4 is an end View of the bag in closed position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the bag partly open.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 5 but showing the bag fully open.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through the bag when fully open.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but illustrating a modified form of the invention.

The handbag of the present invention, in accordance with the first form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, is the type of bag known as a clutch bag with a body 15 of flexible material such as cloth, leather or other handbag material.

Body 15 has a bottom 16 and front and side walls 17, 18 and 19, respectively. The body also has a back and cover member 20. Preferably, the parts of the body are formed from an integral piece or pieces of material. As can be seen in Fig. 7, three such integral pieces may be used, an outside piece 21, a stiffener piece 22 and a liner piece 23. The outside piece 21, as illustrated, is shown as corded fabric, the stiffener 22 as a leather or fiberboard sheet and the liner as soft fabric such as satin or silk.

The back and cover member 20 has a back portion 24 and the two side walls 18 and 19 have upper edges 25 and 26, respectively. The free edge of the back and cover member 20 may be folded and extended over the upper edge 27 of the front wall 17.

Upper edge 27 of front wall 17 intersects the side wall upper edges 25 and 26 and the side walls 18 and 19 are secured to the front wall 17, the bottom 16 and the back portion 24 of the back and cover member 20 by seams 28. The seams may be stitched, heat sealed (where thermoplastic sheeting is used) or otherwise joined by well known fastening devices.

Upper edges 25, 26 and 27 are secured in a rigid frame member 29 which extends around these upper edges. Frame member 29 preferably is made of metal and is in channel form, the upper edges 25, 26 and 27 being held in the channels frictionally or by cementing or in any other well known manner.

Back and cover member also has a cover portion 30 which extends from and is an integral part of the back portion 24. Cover portion 30 is foldable over the upper edges of the front and side walls 17, 18 and 19.

Cover portion 30 has a free edge 31 which is secured in a rigid frame member 32 similar to frame member 29. Frame members 29 and 32 are pivotally connected together by hinge pins 33 adjacent the back portion 24 of the back and cover member 20. The frame 1 members 29 and 32 are thus foldable one upon the other and the free edge 31 of cover portion 30 is thus adapted to extend in alignment with the upper edge 27 of the front wall 17 and in the same plane as the sloping upper edges 25 and 26 of side walls 18 and 19 when the bag is open, as can be best seen in Figs. 6 and 7.

Upper edges 25, 26 and 27 of the front and side walls, as encased in frame member 29, define three sides of the bag opening 34 and the free edge 31 of the back and cover member 20, as encased in framemember 32, forms the fourth side of the bag opening when the bag is open.

Releasable locking means in the form of latch members 35 and 36 are secured to the frame members 29 and 32 to secure the free edge 31 of back and cover member 32 to the front wall 17 Upper edges 25, 26 and 27 are folded back over the side wall 18, front wall 17 and side wall 19, respectviely, to provide folds 37, 38 and 39 (see Fig. 2) disposed beneath the frame members 29 and 32 when the bag is closed and extendible when the bag is opened to give additional depth to the bag.

It will be seen that this arrangement and construction results in a clutch bag of novel and pleasing appearance and which has an opening conveniently disposed with relation to the user of the bag and substantially increased over that of other bags. Thus a clutch bag is provided which is small and compact when closed and large and spacious when open.

In Fig. 8, the back and cover member 20 is shown with a back portion 24' which is higher or deeper than the front wall 17', and the two side walls 18' and 19' have upper edges 25 and 26', respectively, which slope from the back portion 24 of the back and cover member 20' to the upper edge 27' of the front wall 17'. In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form, and the corresponding parts may be recognized by the same reference numerals with a prime added.

It is to be understood that the shape, size and material of the frame, catch and covering material of the handbag may be changed as desired.

It is to be understood that the back and cover member 20 may be made of one, two or more pieces and the handbag body may also be made of several pieces of various size, shape, material and color.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the in vention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A womans handbag comprising a body having a bottom, front and side walls, and a back and cover member, said front wall having an upper edge intersecting and disposed within the same plane as said side wall upper edges, said back and cover member having a cover portion extending from its back portion and fold able over the upper edges of said front and side walls, a first U-shaped rigid frame member secured to and extending around the upper edges of said side and front walls, a second U-shaped rigid frame member identical in size and shape with said first U-shaped Patented Nov. 30, 1954,

frame member and extending around the cover portion of 'the 'back and "cover "member, "means "pivotally' connecting said frame members together at their free ends adjacent the back portion of theback and cover member, seiifd "second ==rigid=frame mernber and cover {being adapted to overlie said first frame member when "the "bag is in the "closed position, said body being made df fleir'ible material, said upper edges of said side walls b'e'ing folded back over' 't'he side fwalls and said upper edge of the front wall being folded back over the "front wall to dispose beneath "the frame member folds extendible to :give additional depth to "the ba when said coveiwportion and-said "second rigid "frame member are rotated. away from' said first rigid frame member, said second rigid frame member being adapted to'be rotated through substantially 180gd'eg'rees so as to lie in-Ith'e same Planas said first Tigid frame member and to pr'esentfa unitary opening substantially "twice the-area of the Ba'gmpening when *in a a closed "position, said handbag being a clutch bag.

2. A womans handbag according to claim 1, said side wall upper *edges extending upwardly away from said front wall, said back'and cover member having a back portion higher than said front wall so as to present an opening inclined upwardly away from said front wall when said second rigid frame member is rotated into the same plane as and away from said first rigid frame member.

References Cited in-the file of this patent STATES PATENTS 

